Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

"WELCOME back, Mr. Sleeping Beauty."

Nero frowned when Trevor's face greeted him as soon as he opened his eyes. "Knock it off, demon."

"The name's Trevor," Trevor, who was on the bed with him while lying on his side, said. Thankfully, Nero's physical body was placed between them. "You don't have to sleep in your Spirit form, so I wonder why you're always asleep these days."

He got up and stretched his arms. It wasn't like he was tired. Maybe it was just out of habit. "It's none of your business."

The only reason Tara allowed Trevor to step foot in the Spirit World was for his sake. But since the queen didn't trust the demon completely, she ordered Trevor to treat his physical body in the queen's annex's palace.

Then Tara assigned William to guard the annex. Only the three of them were allowed in there. And sometimes, the queen would visit to check if Trevor was really healing him properly.

"I can feel William's Mana in you," Trevor continued in a playful voice. "Did he send you to someone's dream or something?"

He ignored Trevor but deep inside, it quite impressed him how sharp the demon was.

[I guess he isn't the Devil's Grimoire for nothing.]

"Ah, I see," the demon said while nodding his head even though Nero said nothing. "You've been visiting Hanna Quinzel in her dreams."

He looked at Trevor to glare at him. "You–"

"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret," Trevor cut him off rudely. "You also don't need to worry about the eyes of gods. My demonic presence blinds them."

It surprised him to hear that. [He can do that as well?]

"Why do you look surprised?" the demon asked while laughing. "You already know that Darkness attribute users can block the eyes of gods. Have you forgotten that demons are children of Darkness?"

He blinked, still surprised to learn that piece of information. "Is that so?"

"How do you think Princess Nichole has successfully hidden Princess Neoma from the crows all this time?"

"Princess Nichole has been hiding Neoma's tracks all this time?"

"I don't know how it happened, but Princess Neoma, ever since she was born, has been blessed with an affinity for the demons," Trevor explained seriously. "But since your twin sister is also blessed with overflowing Moonglow, her demonic power has been hidden all this time. His Majesty only noticed it when Princess Neoma opened a Hellgate. But it seems like your father decided to conceal that fact for now."

His father's decision was understandable.

[The empire is afraid of the Demom Clan. If they find out that the "Crown Prince" has an affinity to the demons, Neoma's life and position will be at risk.]

"But why did you think that the demonic power in Neoma came from Princess Nichole's protection?"

"She said so herself," the demon said. "I just don't know the specifics."

"What kind of Devil's Grimoire are you?"

"The handsome and charismatic type?"

He made a disgusted face as a response.

Trevor got up and laughed while clutching his stomach. "You and Princess Neoma are really twins!" he exclaimed happily. "That's the face that she'd often make when I disgust her."

"Enough," he said to the demon. "If you're done treating my body for today, leave."

The demon clicked his tongue. "You're not thinking like a proper Crown Prince, Prince Nero. I just told you that my presence could blind the gods. Aren't you going to take advantage of that?"

Ah, that made sense.

"I can't stay on the surface for too long since I need to heal you," Trevor said. Although his annoying smirk was still on his face, his eyes looked quite serious. "But I can visit Princess Neoma and deliver her a message from her precious twin brother."

That was a tempting offer.

It wasn't like he knew any other Darkness attribute user. Moreover, he couldn't simply trust anyone, especially if it concerned Neoma's safety.

[I hate to admit this, but I know Trevor is trustworthy.]

But he couldn't tell Neoma the whole truth yet.

[Mother said that Neoma grew up with Gavin Quinzel in another world. Thus, my twin sister sees the former commander as her father. I have to tell Neoma the truth in person.]

"Trevor, can you cover our traces if I visit Neoma in her dreams?" he asked. "William isn't a Darkness attribute user, but since the dream that he creates is his domain, he's able to successfully block the eyes of gods. Can you do the same?"

"Unfortunately, I can't do that," Trevor said while shaking his head. "I create nightmares, not dreams. If you want to see Princess Neoma in her dream, why don't you ask William to do it for you?"

He let out a frustrated sigh. "William and Neoma… don't get along well."

The demon laughed. "Then, record a message for Princess Neoma. I'll deliver it to her and cover her with my Darkness attribute so the gods won't see or hear your message."

"Then, why don't we just talk using a communication device?" he asked, confused. "I'll ask William to cover my tracks, then you'll cover Neoma's tracks."

"That's too risky," the demon said. "It will be too suspicious if you and Princess Neoma disappear at the same time deliberately. We need to be careful, especially now that a Hellgate has been opened. Princess Neoma wrapped it up cleanly, but I'm pretty sure that not everyone is convinced that your twin sister is innocent." The demon clicked his tongue. "Princess Neoma doesn't exactly act like an angel, you know?"

"I know that very well," he said bluntly. "But that's just a part of her charm."

The demon laughed. "Alright. When should I deliver your message?"

"I will record it later," Nero said, then he gave the demon a suspicious look. "You're only helping me because you need a reason to see my sister, aren't you?"

Trevor smiled brightly. "Why are you asking the obvious, Prince Nero?"

[What a prick.]

***

"THERE are two types of Hisa Tree."

Neoma listened carefully to Lady Sera Wisteria's words as they explored the vast Golden Field. Only Hisa Trees grew in that field, and the Hisa Trees had golden-colored leaves. The trees were pretty to look at, and they smelled fragrant.

"The first type is the one Your Royal Highness sees right now," Lady Sera Wisteria, who was walking behind her, said. "Those are artificial Hisa Trees our mages grew by planting the branches of the Mother Hisa Tree. As Your Royal Highness already knows, the original Hisa Tree only grows every fifty years. On the other hand, the artificial Hisa Trees could grow well and be harvested every ten years."

She nodded because if she didn't move, she was afraid she'd dozed off.

"The artificial Hisa Trees we grow also produce the Hisa ointment," Lady Sera Wisteria continued with her explanation. "But of course, it's not as effective as the one produced by the Mother Hisa Tree. We sell the lesser Hisa ointments to the nobility."

She stopped walking and turned around to face Lady Sera Wisteria.

Behind the older noblewomen were Jeanne Audley, Dion Skelton, and Lewis. Then, behind her official knights, were the two female mages and one male mage that worked with Lady Sera Wisteria.

The female mages were the twins Lili and Maya– blonde, green eyes, both serious. Lili and Maya, although twins, worked for different families. Lili, the older twin with bob-cut hair, wore a wine-colored robe with the Wisteria crest. Maya, the younger twin with long hair, wore a navy blue robe with the Hammock crest.

On the other hand, the male mage was a Royal Mage called Axel who wore a white robe with the Moonasterion Empire's crest. He was a bulky brunette that looked intimidating. But his chocolate eyes were gentle. Plus, he was very shy. He couldn't even look at her in the eye.

"This has been bugging me all this time," Neoma said in a cheerful voice while acting innocent. "I thought only the Royal Family could use the Hisa ointment?"

"That is correct, Your Royal Highness," Lady Sera Wisteria said. "The Hisa ointment produced by the Mother Hisa Tree could only be owned and used by the Royal Family. But the lesser Hisa ointment is a separate matter."

"Why do you have to create a lesser ointment and sell them to the nobility?"

Lady Sera Wisteria flinched, but she immediately caught herself. "It's thanks to the generosity of the Royal Family. Your Royal Highness's predecessors believe they shouldn't monopolize the Hisa ointment and share its lesser version to the nobility…"

[How is that "generous" when it's only available to the nobles?]

But her greedy ancestors got one thing right.

"Yes, the Royal Family shouldn't be greedy," she said while smiling brightly. "That's why I'm thinking…" She tilted her head to one side. "Why not make an ointment that the commoners and the peasants could afford?"

Lady Sera Wisteria and the mages collectively gasped.

Her personal knights, however, remained indifferent, as if they were already expecting that from her.

"We can't do that, Your Royal Highness," Lady Sera Wisteria said firmly.

"Why?" she said, then she raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid that the value of the lesser ointment that you sell to the nobility will decrease, Lady Wisteria?"

The older noblewoman flinched.

"Come to think of it, the one who manufactures the Hisa ointment for the Royal Family is the Hammock family while the Wisteria family manufactures the ointment for the nobles," she said, still acting "innocent." "But now that the Hammock family has lost its representative, this year's harvest is spearheaded by the Wisterias."

"That's correct, Your Royal Highness," Lady Sera Wisteria, who seemed to have gotten her act together, said clearly. "But the Wisterias won't be doing all the work. That's why the mage from the Hammock family and the Royal Mage Tower are here to help."

"Because we don't have Madam Hammock anymore, I guess it will be hard on you even with the help of the mages from the Hammock family and the Royal Mage Tower."

"That's correct, Your Royal Highness–"

"Then I shall give you a hand," Neoma said, purposely cutting her off. "Juri Wisteria and Greko, my close aides, who both have the ability of a mage, shall help Lady Wisteria and the mages for this year's harvest." She smiled brightly at her. "I hope you accept my sincerity, Lady Wisteria."

Lady Sera Wisteria's beautiful face hardened. "Very well, Your Royal Highness."

***

"WOW," Neoma said, amazed by the beautiful tree in front of her. "This is the Mother Hisa Tree?"

Unlike the artificial Hisa Trees with golden-colored leaves, the Mother Hisa Tree had emerald leaves. Yes, those were leaf-shaped emerald gems that sparkled brightly against the sun. Even the trunk and the branches were sparkling, as if those were gemstones as well.

They also separated the Mother Hisa Tree from the artificial ones. It was on top of a hill that was protected by several layers of invisible barriers.

"This is indeed the Mother Hisa Tree, Your Royal Highness," Lady Sera Wisteria, who was standing behind her, said. "I apologize, but we need Your Royal Highness's blood. The Mother Hisa Tree in its gem-like state couldn't be harvested unless it returns to a normal tree. And only the blood of a de Moonasterio could undo the Mother Hisa Tree's protection."

Ah, right.

That was her purpose.

Her Papa Boss, on the other hand, would only entrust a vial of his blood to Madam Hammock in the past.

Tsk, that was careless.

[Papa Boss, this is how the Wisterias have tricked the Royal Family all this time.]

"I know the process," she said, then she stretched her arm. "Dion."

With just one call, Dion already appeared by her side.

[I didn't call Lewis because this process requires physical contact.]

The Paladin cradled her wrist. Dion's other hand held a dagger. And with just one swift move, he cut her palm deeply. After all, she had to bleed.

[I can cut myself but Papa Boss told me it's my knight's job to do so.]

When her palm bled enough, she carefully placed her bleeding hand on the cold and hard gem-like trunk of the Mother Hisa Tree. And then…

<"Please save me!">

She groaned and covered her ears with her hands when she heard a woman's crying voice ringing in her head. Before she knew it, she was already on the ground with her eyes tight shut.

"Your Royal Highness!" Lady Sera Wisteria and the mages yelled worriedly.

But none of them could approach her.

After all, Dion and Jeanne already surrounded her and pulled their swords out.

On the other hand, Lewis got down on one knee and inspected her. The anger in her son's eyes was clear.

"Prince," Lewis said in a low yet threatening voice, his golden eyes glowing dangerously. "Kill who?"

Ah, this was bad.

Every time Lewis spoke that way, it meant he was on the verge of losing it.

"Don't kill anyone," Neoma whispered, then she looked up at the Mother Hisa Tree. The woman was still crying in her head. Tteokbokki was calling her in her mind as well, but the crying lady overwhelmed her Soul Beast's voice. To be honest, she felt like her head was about to explode. "Let me just shut my brain first."

By "shutting her brain," she meant fainting.

***

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